Millenium Development Goals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Millenium Development Goals - Essay Example Although poverty eradication has emerged as the top priority of the Philippine government since the 1980s, factors such as the rising population, and the slumping economy amidst political struggles in the late 1980s, kept the goal an elusive dream for the Philippine government, and for millions of vulnerable Filipinos. But with the introduction of the MDG's there were major improvements observed in reducing poverty. Table 1 shows that over the span of 12 years, "subsistence poverty declined from 20.4 percent in 1991 to 16% in 2000 and down to 12.15% in 2003" (Philippines Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals, 2003, p.2). Table 2 also shows much promise in lowering the proportion of the population below the poverty line (i.e. per capita income Despite the positive result in the present ratios, several issues still remain to be taken in hand. For instance, poverty incidence in the Philippines is largely concentrated in the rural areas and in Visayas and Southern Mindanao. The Philippines Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals (2003, p.2) noted that "about 78.8 percent of the food-poor families live in the rural areas...rural poverty remained high between 1991 (55.1%) and 2000 (54.5%). Urban poverty has been reduced by almost one third as of the year 2000, from 35.6 percent in 1991." In terms of poverty concentration by region, 65.2% of the population in Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is classified as poor. Bicol and most regions in the Visayas and Mindanao viz. Central Mindanao, CARAGA, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Western Mindanao also have poverty rates considerably higher than the national average. Furthermore, Table 3 shows reveal that the Gini coefficient has remained high at 0.48 in 2000 which makes income inequality still a huge part of the problem (Philippine National Statistics Office, 2004). The present Philippine administration is committed to win the war against poverty. The Arroyo administration has outlined a "comprehensive set of policies and programs directly aimed at addressing the needs of the poor, under the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2001-04. The core strategies are: 1) Macroeconomic stability with equitable growth based on free enterprise; 2) Agricultural and fisheries modernization with social equity; 3) Comprehensive human development and protecting the vulnerable; and 4) Good governance and the rule of law" (Philippines Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals, 2003, p.14) The centrepiece of the government's Anti-Poverty Agenda is known as KALAHI or "Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan" (Linking Arms Against Poverty) Program, a community- driven development project that aims to improve the access to social services (low-cost, productive infrastructure such as roads, water systems, clinics, and schools), empowerment of the people through strengthening the community participation in local governance, and the management of resources. Since its inception, the project has seen

Encouraging younger members of our communities Essay Example for Free

Encouraging younger members of our communities Essay If we allow children to make some decisions and be involved how does that help them develop? The advantages of encouraging younger members of our communities to become more actively involved in making decisions can be influential to their future. When children and young people have the opportunity to identify the problems that affect their lives and, most importantly, find and implement the solutions, it builds their self-confidence and encourages them to value the positive impact they can have on the lives of others. Through increasingly meaningful and active participation in decision-making children can develop their own identity, a sense of belonging and usefulness. This encourages them to respond to educational opportunities and enter more fully into life at school. A child, whose active engagement with the world and who has been encouraged from a young age, will become more confident to make correct decisions later on in life from skill and mistakes previous involved in. Why is it important you are a positive role model and how do you do this? Having a role model can give a child focus in their lives and something to work towards. Often a role model has a character trait or job that your child desires to have. Because of the role models example children are more likely to work to achieve their goals. A role model can inspire a child to dream big. Often circumstances make dreams seem impossible. A child who has no role model cannot imagine overcoming. A child whose role model has achieved can inspire a child to work harder and achieve their dreams. Those who often find success do so because they had a role model who spurred them on to great things. There are setbacks in every persons life. Knowing that someone else has overcome and achieved will help your child during the hard times. They can look at their role model and realise that at one point they were a child and faced adversity. Yet they were able to achieve their goals. This will help give the child the strength to overcome. Having a role model can help a child develop good habits. If your child has a desire to succeed and become like their role model they will develop those habits necessary to achieve that goal. How can disability affect some children? Having a learning disability has some effect on a childs ability to interact with other students. A child quickly realises that differences exist in the ability to learn certain subjects, compared to peers. A child with a learning disability must work much harder than peers do to complete school assignments. Long hours are spent trying to complete the same homework that other students complete in a much shorter space of time. Because the learning disabled child must work harder than other students, yet not do as well on test or assignments, the child will struggle with self-esteem. It is quite common for fellow students to call learning disabled students names, or talk about the disabilities behind their backs. Therefore, the learning disabled student may have few true and long-lasting friendships. A childs self-esteem and self-worth, is quite often closely tied to the opinions of peer groups and close friendships. A child with a disability may find learning to read complicated. This may allow the child to become frustrated and problems could arise at home or in school, behavioural problems could also be seen, as well as the child becoming unenthusiastic or disliking school. What support can families with a child with disabilities access? Think respite care, short-term breaks, support services in the home, out of school clubs. When a care relationship is not professional and not based on shifts and normal working hours, but is continuous for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a break is not a luxury but essential to maintain the caring role. Day respite can be provided to offer short periods of respite in a range of different ways either in the home or in day centres for older people, or via adult day care resources and enhanced care units. It may also be possible to access services provided by the private and voluntary sectors. Residential respite and phased care can be provided in a residential setting to enable carers to have a break from their caring role. The council has a number of units, which may provide this. Short breaks give disabled children and young people enjoyable experiences away from their primary carers, contributing to their personal and social development and reducing social isolation. They also give parents and families a necessary and valuable break from caring responsibilities and disabled children and young people access to inclusive activities in their local community.There are many different ways to provide short breaks. Each break will differ and depend on the needs of your child and family.Short Breaks can include group based support – for example holiday clubs, after school clubs, sports groups individual short breaks – for example personal assistants, care in the home Children’s centres and extended schools are designed to support children and young people in achieving the five outcomes set out in Every Child Matters, to stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.

The Lewis And Clark Expedition :: essays research papers

American history is accompanied by a long list of explorers who first discovered and who explored the massive continent. All of the explorers had an impact on the development of America. The Lewis and Clark expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, stands prominently at the top part of this list. The Lewis and Clark Expedition has had a significant political, social, and economic effect on America. They were the first to map out the west and set off westward expansion. Without the success of the expedition growth of America would have taken five times as long, as predicted by Thomas Jefferson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Expedition had a drastic political effect on The United States of America. The area in which the expedition was to explore was very close along Spanish territory and a portion of the expedition was in Spanish territory. The Spanish government was very uneasy with the Corps advancing towards them because they thought The United States was attacking them. They dispatched a small group to intercept the Corps however they nearly missed them. Another political impact was the now issue of Indian relations. America just acquired a great deal of land that was formerly owned by Indians and they now had to explain to them that the land was no longer theirs and that they were now a part of the United States. Indian relations would be fine until they were forced to move off their land. The United States had to set up a new branch of government just for Indian relations. Previous to the expedition there were only little issues of dealing with Indians.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Exploration of the west could have had the greatest economical impact on the United States ever. After the west had now been explored they realized they had a great deal of land that now had to be settled. The land was so vast and so cheap that it was sold for very low prices and sometimes just given away. This caused a huge surge of people to begin flowing west and sparked westward expansion. People began setting up farms and more and more people had opportunities to make a good living. Also people now had the chance to look for gold out west and the Gold Rush began. This is when America really had its boom. Lastly we now had twice as much if not more natural resources than we had before.

Soldier’s Home Analysis

â€Å"Soldier’s Home† Literary Analysis It is an undeniable fact that war changes people, and this change becomes especially apparent when soldiers return home to their families. In the short story â€Å"Soldier’s Home†, Ernest Hemingway paints a picture of a soldier’s state of mind after arriving home from the war and shows the difficulties of trying to live a normal life, fit in with society, and start over. Hemingway introduces Harold Krebs as he returns home from World War I much later than the rest of the soldiers.It is very evident from his behavior that he is traumatized, confused, and feels very much out of place. He doesn’t know where to begin to pick up where he left off and truly feels confused about his purpose in life, which can be very much related to the way many soldiers feel in our generation. Things such as fitting in with the society, getting a job, and starting a new relationship become a lot more complicated, and Krebs ex presses this several times throughout the story.He especially focuses on the subject of starting a relationship with a girl and his inability and lack of interest of even introducing himself. He likes to observe women, and even desires to be with one; however, the idea of courting and investing time into it completely turns him off. Hemmingway never explains why Krebs feels this way but gives enough hints that perhaps Krebs once suffered heartbreak. â€Å"Now he would have liked a girl if she had come to him and not wanted to talk, but here at home it was all too complicated.He knew he could never go through it all again. † The reader is focused on the words â€Å"again† and â€Å"It all†, allowing the audience to assume that he might have done this once before. The word â€Å"complicated† is repeated a numerous times when it’s associated with girls; â€Å"the girls live in a complicated world, â€Å" â€Å"they were too complicated†, â₠¬Å"it is too complicated† and â€Å"He had tried to so to keep his life from being complicated. †Ã‚  which is another clue that Krebs might have gone through a rough break-up.Whether this happened during his time away or before the war, Hemingway never explains. Another reason for Krebs’ lack of interest to date could be assumed that he developed different outlook on women in his time in Germany. During any war women usually become victims of sexual and physical assault and it is safe to assume that maybe Krebs experienced this during his time in Germany. â€Å"His acquaintances, who had heard detailed accounts of German women found chained to machine guns†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Vaguely, he wanted a girl but he id not want to spend a long time getting her are statements that can allude to him having interest in getting a girl just for a short time, for pleasure, but nothing more. With all the disconnect Krebs feels, the reader is forced to question â€Å"Wher e is home for Harold Krebs? † It is obvious that he doesn’t feel home, even though he comes from a great small town in Oklahoma, has a supportive and loving family, and has others praying for him. This, however, is not enough for Krebs to compensate for all the horrors he witnessed during the war.His mother encourages him to talk about it but never truly pays attention, which results with Krebs feeling like he cannot express himself without being misunderstood. During breakfast, his mother asks him to pray with her to what he responds, â€Å"I can’t. † This signifies that Krebs lost his faith. He truly doesn’t care what happens to him and proceeds to speak apathetically. When his father says â€Å"don’t you love your mother, dear boy? † and Harold replies, â€Å"no† â€Å"I don’t love anyone†. His mother instantly starts to cry, to which Harold realizes.He knows he hurt her feelings even though it doesn’t se em like he meant to do it on purpose. Many can presume that Krebs cannot make his parents understand everything he went through in combat. Statement such as â€Å"I don’t love anyone† almost sounds as if he is showing his parents he is all grown up and not the little boy he used to be. It is safe to say that Krebs is probably going through many emotions at once. There are things in which he says that he probably doesn’t mean, but doesn’t know how to express them otherwise.One example of this is toward the end of the story when Harold’s mother tells him she held him close to her heart when he was a baby, to which he replies, â€Å"I know, Mummy, I’ll try to be good for you. † He contradicts himself by calling his mother â€Å"Mummy†, which shows he does indeed love her. He proceeds to tell himself that his conversation with his mother didn’t touch him and moving away to Kansas City would be a good escape from his family s ituation. His thinking shows that he could possibly be lying to himself, trying to convince himself that life would be better away from them.Maybe he doesn’t want his mother to love him because he feels ashamed and nauseated for all the things he’s done during the war. Hemingway leaves much of â€Å"Soldier’s Home† to the reader’s interpretation. The story doesn’t have a set plot and the main character Krebs is not better off in the end of the story or at the beginning. A lot of Krebs’ behavior can be paralleled to our modern day soldiers’ who come home from war in Iraq and Afghanistan. From personal experience, most of them never truly talk about everything that happened there, and if they do they never express their true emotions about the events.Many have trouble coping with day-to-day lives and sometimes even express violent behavior toward their loved ones. It’s hard to make judgments on their condition because the subject of killing another human being is rather incomprehensible to someone who has never been at war. It is something so abstract for us that the only way for us to understand is to be there physically and mentally and no cinematic movie will ever truly capture those feelings. Unfortunately during Hemingway’s era PTSD was something that wasn’t discussed or even treated.The society and culture at the time was very much removed from the realities of what war was really like. It wasn’t broadcasted over the internet, and people were not exposed to explicit documentaries that showed all the horrors that happen to people. I personally believe Hemingway, who also served briefly in World War I, could relate a lot to Krebs and his environment. It is something that could have been a way for him to cope with his own personal demons while trying to make the readers understand the feelings of apathy, emptiness and the state of mind of soldier upon his return home.

Emerging Standards Essay

Diversity is exhibited in many ways, including a multiplicity of upbringing, dress, thought, lifestyle, values, food preferences, family relationships, and in gender, ethnicity, and age. These factors exist throughout the gamut of health care patients and the interactions designed with the nurses who care for them. Diversity in healthcare refers to the cultural setting in how the patient lives and in some measure defining their connection to healing, health, and their own role in the nurse to patient relationship (University of Phoenix, 2012). In many ways, the United States landscape is changing, especially in the health care field. The Baby Boomers are reaching an age where they are going to need and use more health care assistance, Generation Y and the Nexters are entering into the ages to begin working careers, and are bringing different behaviors and value sets with them. In the middle of all of these changes are the nurses and their care. Factors that play an influential role i n the delivery of nursing care to the ever changing landscape are not only the diversity of the patient but the ability of the nurse to provide effective and culturally competent care (University of Phoenix, 2012). Standards of Cultural Competence American nurses are predominately made of white females and does not honestly indicate the diverse population they serve. The push for more minority students to be recruited into the schools of nursing is big, but because of the culture of the profession being made up of middle class, white values, the minority nursing students are facing a barrier; racism. In nursing education, there is an emphasis on cultural competence. Being culturally competent means having the ability to care for patients with different cultures and backgrounds competently. This is otherwise known as transcultural nursing. An essential part of the nursing syllabus, transcultural nursing eliminates the racism shadow that has been portrayed  all these years as normal. Transcultural nursing emphasizes nursing capabilities in providing culturally specific care to a diverse patient population. Cultural competence refers to studying and practicing nursing, focusing on the similarities and differences among the cult ures with respect to nursing care and patient health. Cultural competence can also be defined as â€Å"the ability to provide effective clinical care for a particular ethnic or racial group and is seldom seen as the ability to reach a culturally diverse student population with varying perspectives on health and illness and female roles† (Wilby, 2009, p. 58). Culturally competent standards in healthcare are set as ethnic or racial differences in the quality of care not discriminated against. There are two levels of non-discrimination. The first is within the operation of the healthcare system and the way the system functions following regulatory and legal pathways. The second is at the provider-patient level, or the individual’s levels. Discrimination is described as the way care is given based on prejudices, biases, and stereotyping. Another type of discrimination is on the patient level with the provider. An example, a minority patient refuses service recommendations based on the result of a cultural mismatch between the patient and the care provider. This type of behavior can also result from misuse of clinical services such as when a test is not clinically indicated but given anyway (a pregnancy test on all females over the age of 12 regardless) (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2003). Culturally Competent Care within Memorial Hermann Healthcare Systems Memorial Hermann Healthcare System (MHHS) is dedicated to the purpose of assisting the communities, patients, employees, and physicians they serve in a responsible, legal, and ethical fashion. Furthermore, they are loyal in rendering aid to their community, staying in full conformity with appropriate guidelines, laws, and regulations, in addition to their own procedures, policies, and processes. They are especially aware of the obligations appropriate to federal programs and correct billings submission. MHHS provides culturally competent, holistic care that directs with due respect, the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of their patients. The system has high ethical values and expects respect, integrity, and fairness in all their relationships, employer, employee, and patient. MHHS provides culturally competent care with respect to the individual dignity of the patient,  responding to needs, questions, and concerns in a sensitive and timely fashion. They evaluate and monitor on a continuing basis, the way care and any other similar services is being delivered to make sure that their mandated and customary set standards are being met. They take pride in the non-discrimination of the patient for any basis regardless of their ethnicity, race, upbringing, dress, lifestyle, values, gender, disability, or age. These same standards are upheld for the employees also. There is no discrimination when it comes to training, promotion or compensation, and employees are encouraged to frequently evaluate their current methods of care delivery in hopes of learning more effective ways of providing patient care and showing support (M emorial Hermann Healthcare System, 2012). Populations: Served and Vulnerability Cultural minorities have more of a tendency to get an inferior quality of care than the non-minorities, even with controlled access-related factors, such as income and insurance status. There are many sources to this disparity; contemporary and historic inequities, and involving many players; health care systems along with their bureaucratic and administrative processes, case managers or utilization reviewers, the healthcare professional, and the patients themselves. Studies have shown that uncertainty, biases, and stereotyping done by the professional contributes to this unequal treatment. Minorities also experience other barriers to accessing care, even if they carry the same level of insurance as whites, including cultural familiarity, geography, and language barriers. Furthermore, the hospital and clinic financial arrangements of a health care system, as well as the regulatory, policy, and legal environment in which the system operates, may have a negative effect on these vulnerable populations’ ability to acquire quality health care (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2003). Delivery of Nursing Care Nurses need be aware of how barriers such as racial, ethnicity, and gender can be related to health care access, and problems with underutilization are present causing disparities and affecting the communities in which they serve (University of Phoenix, 2012). Transcultural nursing has become a lead role player in the delivery of healthcare and is a necessity for the nurses  of today because of the steadily increasing multicultural trend happening within the American population. One out of three people in the United States make up a portion of various ethnicities other than the average White. Because of this swift growth of the multicultural society, transcultural nursing is vital to nursing care, requiring that nurses are practicing cultural competence in their day-to-day patient care areas. Culturally competent nurses are knowledgeable about other cultural beliefs and ideas and are trained in being able to identify particular patterns in order to formulate a personalized care plan that meets all the needs and goals of the patient. Culturally competent nurses also provide holistic care. This approach focuses on the spiritual, emotional, social, psychological, and physical needs of the patient. Being able to provide holistic care to the individual patient also means that the nurse can also relate to the patient’s cultural differences. In other words, in order for the nurse to perform care for their patient at the optimal level, the nurse must be culturally competent (Maier-Lorentz, 2008). Solutions Multi-level and comprehensive strategies are needed to eliminate barriers of cultural competence. The gap between ethnic and racial groups and healthcare (providers, payors, patients, insurance plans, and society as a whole) must be made known in order to reach a solution. The healthcare workers and their competence to provide superior care to ethnic and racial minorities can be enhanced significantly by expanding the ratio of ethnic and racial minorities among healthcare professionals. Also, both the providers and their patients can profit from education. Patients can profit from culturally and customarily suitable instructional programs to enhance their knowledge of how to obtain competent health care and their capacity to share in their outcome and making decisions. The providers, however, carry the larger educational burden. Cultural competence courses should be incorporated from the beginning of their career, for any upcoming healthcare professional, and case-based, realistic, and meticulously assessed training exercises be offered through continuing education courses. Lastly, monitoring, collecting, and reporting of core measure and meaningful use data to health insurers and state and/or federal entities should be supported as a way to evaluate improvement in eradicating disparities, to  assess mediation attempts, and to gauge conceivable civil rights breaches (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2003). Implementing the Solutions The health care professional who develops a detailed viewpoint of the association between health and culture; values respect for inclusiveness, social justice, equity, and differences; and uses their ability to authorize these standards in their areas of influence, personally and professionally, are capable of improving care for patient diversity (Getzlaf & Osborne, 2010). Studies such as the â€Å"Sullivan Commission’s Report on the Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce suggests that increasing the diversity of healthcare professionals† will rally healthcare equality and quality for racial and ethnic minorities who go through the most disparities in health results (Edwards, 2009, para. 3). As the number of non-white people increase in the United States, the workforce of professional nurses needs to reflect its persons to strengthen quality and access of healthcare for people from culturally diverse upbringings (Edwards, 2009). Conclusion Diversity in healthcare refers to the cultural setting of how the patient lives and in some measure defining their connection to healing, health, and their own role in the nurse to patient relationship. Most nurses are performing in multicultural settings where the patient brings his or her own set of values and beliefs. Being able to understand the nurse’s individual cultural viewpoint of the community, the client, and one’s self is central to giving culturally and suitable care (University of Phoenix, 2012). In collaboration with others, MHHS is committed to assessing and creating health care solutions that meets the needs of the individuals in their diverse communities. This healthcare system believes in treating everyone with the respect and dignity as they themselves want, creating an environment that is unique to each individual who enters their doors, making each patient feel special and well-cared for, no matter what (Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, 2012). Nurses must continue to practice cultural competence daily in their practice in order to impart in each patient the feeling of being cared for and known of as an individual in a multifaceted healthcare system and the culturally diverse society (Maier-Lorentz, 2008). References Edwards, K. (2009, Summer). Promoting quality care by increasing the diversity of the professional nursing workforce. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 16(2), 39. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from University of Phoenix Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Getzlaf, B.A., & Osborne, M. (2010). A journey of critical consciousness: an educational strategy for health care leaders. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 7(34), 1-15. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from University of Phoenix Library, MEDLINE with Full Text. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2003). Unequal Treatment. Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Washington, D.C. The National Academies Press. Maier-Lorentz, M.M. (2008, Spring). Transcultural nursing: its importance in nursing practice. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 15(1), 37-43. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from University of Phoenix Library, MEDLINE with Full Text. Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. (2012). Standards of con duct. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from http://www.memorialhermann.org University of Phoenix. (2012). Read me first. Retrieved November 6, 2012 from University of Phoenix, NUR/531 website. Wilby, M.L. (2009). When the world was white. International Journal for Human Caring, 13(4), 57-61. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from University of Phoenix Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text.

Which Colleges Require All ACT Scores Sent

Which Colleges Require All ACT Scores Sent SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Wondering which colleges require you to send allyour ACT scores when you apply?We have a list here of the most popular schools that require all scores, as well as a guide to looking up this information for any school in the country. Read on to learn which colleges want to see your entire ACT testing history. What to Know Before You Send ACT Scores Nearly all colleges require you to send either SAT scores or ACT scores as part of your application. But colleges differ on how they handle multiple sets of scores, such astwo sets of ACT scores. Some colleges require you to send your entire ACT testing record if you took the ACT more than once- even if that means sending some not-so-great scores. Other colleges are fine with you just sending scores from one ACT test date. While most colleges are fine with receiving just one set of ACT scores, there are many- including some high-profile schools- that require your entire testing history. We will reveal them below. Which Schools Require All ACT Scores? There is no comprehensive list from ACT, Inc. of all the colleges that require all ACT scores (unlike the College Board, which provides a list of all the colleges requiring all SAT scores). However, schools will say on their admissions websites whether they require all ACT scores, usually quite clearly. If they don't require all scores, they'll just give the usual spiel about requiring at least one SAT or ACT score per application. We were able to put together this guide by researching admissions sites of various colleges and universities.In terms of methodology, we looked up the most popular/top-tier schools from our SAT all scores list to see whether they also require all ACT scores (hint: many of them do!). From our research, we found that schools that didn’t require all SAT scores never required all ACT Scores either. Even more interesting, some of the schools that require all SAT scores don’t require all ACT scores (as one might assume)- we'll list some of those below, too. Anytime admissions websites weren’t clear, we called admissions offices directly to confirm the school's ACT score policy. By doing this, we were able to come up with a list of more than a dozen high-profile schools that require all ACT scores. Sometimes just dialing up an admissions officer is the easiest way to get info about a college's ACT policy. Colleges That Require You to Send All ACT Scores It's time for the list! Below are some well-known colleges that require applicants to submit all ACT scores with their applications. Barnard College "Barnard does not participate in score choice and requires students to send all standardized testing scores....For the ACT, we will use your highest composite; we do not superscore the ACT. ...We have always practiced the spirit of score choice. However, we do prefer to see a student's full testing history to have a complete picture."* *Emphasis mine Barnard College, which is an all-women’s school associated with Columbia University, requires all ACT scores for admission. It’s worth noting that this scores policy is stricter than Columbia's. Carnegie Mellon University "All applicants are required to submit all official results of either the old SAT Reasoning Test/SAT Test or the ACT Test.* ... While we're interested in the general pattern of your scores, we give most weight to the highest score you've received on any of the exams." *Emphasis mine Note that Carnegie Mellon is interested in the "general pattern" of your scores- i.e., when they went up, when they went down, and what your overall ACT score ranges are. This is typical for schools that require all scores. That being said, the highest score you receive will be given the most weight. Georgetown University "Georgetown University does not participate in the Score Choice option available through the College Board. Georgetown requires that you submit scores fromall test sittingsof the SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests." Georgetown explains their all scores policy by saying that having the full testing history allows them to assess applicants across the pool fairly. Even though your highest scores are the ones that will receive the most attention, your lower ACT scores will receive at least some consideration as well. Rice University "The ACT's definition of a composite score is the average of the four multiple-choice scale scores from a single administration of the exam. Therefore, it is Rice’s policy to use the highest ACT composite score in admission consideration from a single administration." I called to clarify that Rice requires all ACT scores since it's not explicit on their website. Rice does, in fact, require all ACT scores,though they'll use your highest composite when they review your file. Stanford University "All scores from all high school sittings of either the ACT or SAT (or both if you took both) are required. ...For the ACT, we will review all subscores and will focus on the highest Composite and the highest English and writing scores from all test sittings." You should note that Stanford requires all ACT scores and all SAT scores- not just one or the other. This is one of the strictest standardized test policies around! Syracuse University Syracuse University is on the College Board’s list of schools that require all SAT scores. They also say on their website, "The Admissions Committee will consider the highest score you have achieved on either the SAT or ACT"(bold emphasis mine). I called and confirmed their ACT score policy since it wasn’t specified on their website. So is ita requirement to send all ACT scores to Syracuse? Here's what they said: "Yes, it is a requirement to send all of your [ACT] scores. ... You do send all your scores and then we look at the highest scores." Even though Syracuse will focus on your highest score, they require you to send all ACT scores. University of California System "In the College Board's Score Choice module, ensure that all scores are sent to UC.* We require all scores and will use the highest scores from a single administration. For the ACT with Writing test, we will focus on the highest combined score from the same test administration." *Emphasis mine I called and confirmed that this means you have to send all ACT scores as well, even if they will just focus on your highest overall composite. So if you’re interested in any of the UC schools- from UC Berkeley to UCLA to UC Davis- be prepared to send all of your ACT scores for them to review. University of Miami "If you take the [ACT or SAT] more than once, please ensure that the testing agency sends all of your scores so that we have your best performance on record.*The Admission Committee will consider all official test scores from multiple test dates. We will use the highest composite score from among each test that you’ve taken." *Emphasis mine While the University of Miami seems committed to just looking at your highest ACT scores, they do require all scores to make sure they know an applicant’s entire testing record. University of Pennsylvania "Although we permit Score Choice, we encourage students to submit their entire testing history for both ACT and SAT exams." It's worth noting that Penn used to have a much stricter test scores policy that was similar to Stanford's. Now, however, it strongly recommends (but does not require) applicants to submit all ACT scoresand SAT scores. Yale University "Applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT exam multiple times should report all scores from whichever test they choose to report.Applicants who choose to report scores from both the SAT and ACT should report all scores received on both tests.* ...When assessing ACT results, admissions officers focus on the highest ACT Composite from all test dates while also considering individual ACTsubscores." *Emphasis mine Yale’s policy is similar to Stanford’s in that they require all SAT scores and all ACT scores if you took both tests.However, note that with the ACT, they will be focusing the most on your highest composite score. Colleges That Require All SAT Scores but Not All ACT Scores There are a few colleges that require all SAT scores but don’t have the same policy for the ACT. Although none of the schools explained- either on their websites or by phone- why their policies are different for the SAT and ACT, we have a couple of guesses. Our first guess has to do with cost. The SAT does not charge extra money to send additional score dates to a school, whereas the ACT does. While it costs $12 to send all of your SAT scores to one college, it could cost $26 or even $39 to do the same with the ACT, depending on how many times you’ve taken the test. Colleges that are aware of this might have made their ACT policies more lenient as a result. Not everyone has bags of money to spend on college admissions ... Our second guess is the way the two tests are evaluated. Though many colleges are interested in a student’s highest SAT score on each section (Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing), with the ACT, they often care the most about your overall composite score. This might be because the ACT’s final composite is evenly balanced between Reading, English, Math, and Science, whereas the SAT’s composite gives half the weight to Math and one-fourth the weight each to Reading and Writing. If a college will be looking at the highest ACT composite score, they're likely fine with the student just sending that one score. By contrast, for the SAT, they might want to see all sittings of that test so they can compare subsections. We’ve listed some high-profile schools here that require all SAT scores but not all ACT scores to help you decide between the two tests. Cornell University "Allrequired scoresmust be officially reported to Cornell from the testing agency by our application deadline.Note that Cornell requires students to submit all scores from SAT tests taken and does not participate in the College Board’s Score Choice." However, when I called and talked to an admissions representative, I was told that all ACT scores do not have to be submitted- this policy only applies to the SAT. So for Cornell, feel free to send just your best ACT score. The George Washington University George Washington isa test-optional school, meaning it does not require SAT or ACT scores (though applicants may submit them if desired). However, the school still appears on the College Board’s all scores list for the SAT, suggesting that if you do decide to send SAT scores, you should send all of them. It was not clear whether this policy applies to the ACT as well, soI called the university and asked whether students who choose to submit ACT scores must send all their scores. I received a short, simple answer:"No, you’re not required to send all your ACT scores."For GWU, you only have to send your best ACT score (if you choose to submit any at all). Pomona College "We do not require that you submit multiple test scores. We do recommend it because we superscore," I was told by an admissions counselor when I asked whether applicants must send all ACT scores to Pomona. Be aware that Pomona superscores the ACT, meaning they'll take your highest section scores from different test dates and combine them to make your highest possible composite score. If you have two ACT dates that could be superscored into a markedly higher composite, it might be worth it to send both score dates to Pomona. Texas AM University Are you required to send all ACT scores to Texas AM? Here's what they said when I called them: "You could just send one [set of ACT scores], but it’s not going to hurt you to send multiple scores." So while Texas AM will look at only your highest ACT composite, you can send just one score if you want. Tufts University From speaking to an admissions representative at Tufts, I learned that "it’s not a requirement, but is suggested to send all ACT scores."So if you have high section scores spread across two different ACT dates, you might want to send both dates to Tufts. However, you can also just send the highest composite score if you want to save money! University of Washington I called the University of Washington to ask whether they require all ACT scores or not. Here's what they said: "We request you send all scores from the SAT exams. We recommend you send all of your ACT scores. On our website it does not specify that you send all ACT scores, so you can just send one."* *Emphasis mine How to Find the ACT Score Policy for Any College Our list above doesn't include every single college that requires all ACT scores. So how can you find out whether a school you're interested in applying to requires your entire ACT testing history? Let's go through the process together, step by step. First, check to see whether the school is on the all SAT scores list. If it is, it’s very likely that it'll also require all ACT scores. You can still look up the school even if it’s not on the list. Just note that it’s probable that if a school doesn’t require all SAT scores, neither will it require all ACT scores. For example, I'm searching for the ACT score policy at Amherst College. They did not appear on the list of schools that require all SAT scores, so I don't expect them to require all ACT scores either. Next,go to the school's undergraduate admissions website tofind the first-year application requirements page.(You can just search "[School Name] first year/freshmen admission" to look this up quickly.) This page will list the standardized testing required to apply. Many all-test-scores schools will specify their policies here. Here's what I got when I searched for "amherst college first year admission": Click on the link to your school's official application requirements page. On Amherst's "First-Year Applicants" page, there's a section about standardized test results that looks like this: Amherst "recommend[s] that applicants submit all test results" (bold emphasis mine). Since they don't say require, it looks like you can just send your best ACT score. I'll check the FAQ page just to make sure, though. If there's nothing on Score Choice or all scores on your school's "First-Year Requirements" page, find the FAQ page and see whether there's a question about it.Here are some questions to look out for: Do you accept SAT Score Choice Can I submit the ACT/SAT more than once? How many times should I take the ACT/SAT? Here's the closest answer on Amherst's FAQ page I could find having to do with sending multiple test results: Amherst uses the phrase, "If the applicant submits multiple ACT results," implying that you most likely do not need to send all ACT scores. Given that Amherst is not on the SAT all scores list and doesn't seem strict about how many test scores it receives, it's probably safe to conclude that Amherst does not require all ACT scores. If there’s no FAQ page or relevant question you can find, contact the school's admissions office by phone or email. The admissions office contact information is often listed at the bottom of the website. Be sure to ask the following question: "If I take the ACT twice, am I required to send both scores as part of my application?" If they say yes, ask this follow-up question to confirm:"So I’m required to send all of my ACT scores to [School Name]?" If they so no, then ask this follow-up: "So if I send just one of my ACT scores, that meets your standardized testing requirement?" Once you get your answer, don't forget to thank them for their time or ask any other questions you might have about the application process. The Workaround: Deleting an ACT Score Date To recap, we've discovered it’s fairly rare for a college to require all ACT scores. That said, some very popular schools, such as Stanford, Georgetown, and Yale, do require all of your ACT scores. There are some good reasons to not want to send all of your ACT scores, especially to competitive schools. The first is cost. As previously mentioned, ACT, Inc.charges you per score date and per school to send your ACT scores.So if you took the ACT three times, you'd have to pay $39 ($13 for each test date) just to send your scores to one all-scores school. If you're applying to multiple colleges, these costs can add up quickly. The second reason to avoid sending all of your ACT scores is competitiveness. If you have a low composite score from one test date, it could damage your chances of getting accepted toa competitive school. All in all, if you really don’t want to send all of your ACT scores and you've got one score date that's decidedly better than your other ones (meaning the composite is higher and most, if not all, of the subscores are higher), it's a good idea tokeep the high score- and delete the other ones. To delete an ACT score, you must submit a written request to ACT, Inc. They will then send you a form to fill out, which you will send back to complete the process.Read our guide to deleting ACT scoresfor more information on how to do this and to learn more about what deleting ACT scores means for you. What’s Next? Is your ACT score good enough? Learn what an excellent ACT score is for your top-choice schools. Did you know a high ACT score can also help you net thousands of dollars in scholarships? See our list of automatic scholarships for high ACT scoresfor more information. Studying for an ACT retake? Learn how to stop running out of time on the Math and Reading sections, and check out our complete guide to ACT Science- it’s the best around! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

A Linguistic Look at Spanish

A Linguistic Look at Spanish Ask a linguist what kind of a language Spanish is, and the answer you get may depend on that linguists specialty. To some, Spanish is primarily a language derived from Latin. Another may tell you that Spanish is primarily an SVO language,  whatever that is, while others may refer to it as a fusional language. Spanish is classified as either an Indo-European or Romance language based on  its origins.Spanish is classified as a mostly SVO language because of its commonly used word order.Spanish is classified as somewhat inflectional because of the extensive use of word endings used to indicate attributes such as gender, number, and tense. All these classifications, and others, are important in linguistics, the study of language. As these examples show, linguists can classify languages according to their history, as well as according to the languages structure and according to how words are formed. Here are three common classifications that linguists use and how Spanish fits in with them: Genetic Classification of Spanish The genetic classification of languages is closely related to etymology, the study of the origins of words. Most of the worlds languages can be divided into about a dozen major families (depending on what is considered major) based on their origins. Spanish, like English, is part of the Indo-European family of languages, which includes the languages spoken by around half the worlds population. It includes most of the past and current languages of Europe (the Basque language being a major exception) as well as the traditional languages of Iran, Afghanistan, and the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Some of the most common Indo-European languages today include French, German, Hindi, Bengali, Swedish, Russian, Italian, Persian, Kurdish and Serbo-Croatian. Among Indo-European languages, Spanish can be further classified as a Romance language, meaning that it is descended from Latin. Other major Romance languages include French, Portuguese, and Italian, all of which have strong similarities in vocabulary and grammar. Classification of Spanish by Word Order One common way of classifying languages is by the order of the basic sentence components, namely the subject, object, and verb. In this regard, Spanish can be thought of as a flexible subject-verb-object or SVO language, as is English. A simple sentence will typically follow that order, as in this example: Juanita lee el libro, where Juanita is the subject, lee (reads) is the verb and el libro (the book) is the object of the verb. It should be noted, however, that this structure is far from the only one possible, so Spanish cant be thought of as a strict SVO language. In Spanish, it is often possible to leave out the subject entirely if it can be understood from the context, and it also is common to change the word order to emphasize a different part of the sentence. Also, when pronouns are used as objects, the SOV order (subject-object-verb) is the norm in Spanish: Juanita lo lee. (Juanita reads it.) Classification of Spanish by Word Formation In terms of how words are formed, languages can be classified in at least three ways: As isolating or analytical, meaning  that words or word roots dont change based on how they are used in a sentence, and that the relationship of words to each other are conveyed primarily by the use of word order or by words known as particles to indicate the relationship among them.As inflectional or fusional, meaning that the forms of the words themselves change to indicate how they relate to the other words in a sentence.As  agglutinating or agglutinative, meaning that words are frequently formed by combining various combinations of morphemes, wordlike units with distinct meanings. Spanish is generally viewed as a somewhat inflectional language, although all three typologies exist to some extent. English is more isolating than Spanish, although English too has inflectional aspects. In Spanish, verbs are nearly always inflected, a process known as conjugation. In particular, each verb has a root (such as habl-)  to which endings are attached to indicate who is performing the action and the time period in which it occurs. Thus, hablà © and hablaron both have the same root, with the endings used to provide more information. By themselves, the verb endings have no meaning. Spanish also uses inflection for adjectives to indicate number and gender. As an example of the isolating aspect of Spanish, most nouns are inflected only to indicate whether they are plural or singular. In contrast, in some languages, such as Russian, a noun can be inflected to indicate, for example, that it is a direct object rather than a subject. Even names of people can be inflected. In Spanish, however, word order and prepositions are typically used to indicate the function of a noun in a sentence. In a sentence such as Pedro ama a Adriana (Pedro loves Adriana), the preposition a is used to indicate which person is the subject and which is the object. (In the English sentence, word order is used to inidicate who loves whom.) An example of an agglutinative aspect of Spanish (and of English) can be seen in its use of various prefixes and suffixes. For example, the difference between hacer (to do) and deshacer (to undo) is in its use of the morpheme (a unit of meaning) des-.

Strategies for Building Rapport With Students

Strategies for Building Rapport With Students For teachers, building rapport with students is a component that takes teaching to the next level. Teachers understand that this takes time. Building rapport is a process. It often takes weeks and even months to establish a healthy student-teacher relationship. Teachers will tell you that once you have earned the trust and respect of your students, everything else becomes much easier. When students look forward to coming to your class, you look forward to coming to work each day. Strategies to Build Rapport With Students There are many different strategies through which rapport can be built and maintained. The best teachers are adept at incorporating strategies throughout the year so that a healthy relationship is established, then maintained with each student that they teach. Send students a postcard before school begins letting them know how much you are looking forward to having them in class.Incorporate personal stories and experiences within your lessons. It humanizes you as a teacher and makes your lessons more interesting.When a student is sick or misses school, personally call or text the student or their parents to check on them.Utilize humor in your classroom. Do not be afraid to laugh at yourself or the mistakes that you make.Depending on the age and sex of the student, dismiss students with a hug, handshake, or fist bump every day.Be enthusiastic about your job and the curriculum you teach. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. Students will not buy in if a teacher is not enthusiastic.Support your students in their extra-curricular endeavors. Attend athletic events, debate meets, band competitions, plays, etc.Go the extra mile for those students who need help. Volunteer your time to tutor them or hook them up with someone who can give them the extra as sistance they need. Conduct a student interest survey and then find ways to incorporate their interests into your lessons throughout the year.Provide your students with a structured learning environment. Establish procedures and expectations on day one and enforce them consistently throughout the year.Talk to your students about their individual strengths and weaknesses. Teach them to set goals. Provide them with the strategies and tools necessary to reach those goals and improve on their weaknesses.Ensure that each student believes that they are important to you and that they matter to you.From time to time, write students a personal note encouraging them to work hard and embrace their strengths.Have high expectations for all of your students and teach them to have higher expectations for themselves.Be fair and consistent when it comes to student discipline. Students will remember how you handled previous situations.Eat breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria surrounded by your students. Some of the great est opportunities for building rapport present themselves outside the classroom. Celebrate student successes and let them know you care when they falter or are facing difficult personal situations.Create engaging, fast-paced lessons that grab every student’s attention and keep them coming back for more.Smile. Smile often. Laugh. Laugh often.Do not dismiss a student or their suggestions or ideas for any reason. Hear them out. Listen to them intently. There may be some validity to what they have to say.Talk to your students regularly about the progress they are making in class. Let them know where they stand academically and provide them with a path for improvement if needed.Admit and own up to your mistakes. You will make mistakes and students will be looking to see how you handle things when you do.Take advantage of teachable moments even when on occasion this ventures far away from the actual topic of the day. The opportunities will often have more of an impact on your students than the lesson.Never demean or berate a student in front of their peers. Addr ess them individually in the hall or immediately after class. Engage in casual conversation with students in between classes, before school, after school, etc. Simply ask them how things are going or inquire about certain hobbies, interests, or events.Give your students a voice in your class. Allow them to make decisions on expectations, procedures, classroom activities, and assignments when it is appropriate.Build relationships with the parents of your students. When you have a good rapport with the parents, you typically have a good rapport with their children.Make home visits from time to time. It will provide you with a unique snapshot into their lives, possibly giving you a different perspective, and it will help them see that you are willing to go the extra mile.Make every day unpredictable and exciting. Creating this type of environment will keep students wanting to come to class. Having a room full of students who want to be there is half the battle.When you see students in public, be personable with them. Ask them how they are doing an d engage in casual conversation.

Nike case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nike - Case Study Example Therefore, Nike ought to compel these companies to conform to the already set guidelines meant to protect workers in their respective states. These include both international and national rights usually put in place to safeguard human rights by availing conducive working conditions for workers in states where these companies belong. In addition, Nike Company based on the fact it funds all its subcontracting manufacturing factories, it should be responsible for any act infringing of human rights as outlined by varied states’ constitutions and international law. 2. What labor standards regarding safety, working conditions, overtime, and the like, should Nike hold foreign factories to? Nike ought to implement specific safety standards and humanitarian working conditions in all subcontracted factories globally with the intention of avoiding losing its reputation. This is because for several decades Nike Company has experienced bad publicity due to numerous accusations lodged again st it by trade unions, global regimes and University students based on poor working conditions. Numerous economic experts claim creation of Nike’s wealth is through enslaving poor people especially in developing countries. This is evident when Connor cites Nike Company is a rich Western corporation whose main objective is to provide expensive shoes to the well off people in developed countries while in turn exploiting the less privileged. Nike ought to ensure transparency and accountability in various factories, which it has entered into contract with in quest to market its products globally. In addition, its management ought to encourage workers in airing their grievances without victimization to their respective supervisors and managers (Lichtig & Wisley, n.d). This is by the enforcing adherence of laws in all its factories in order to avail adequate and effective protective equipments especially to workers working in departments dealing with obnoxious chemicals. Some of th ese protective facilities include gloves, masks, industrial boots as well as overall coats, which are vital in avoiding lethal complications caused by uncontrolled exposure to chemicals in the factories. Besides, Nike Company ought to compel its factories to implement both minimum wage and working duration policies stipulated by regimes of varied states in which they operate (Lichtig & Wisley, n.d). 3. In Indonesia, an income of $2.28 a day, the base pay of Nike factory workers, is double the daily income of about half the working population. Half of all adults in Indonesia are farmers, who receive less than $1 a day. Given these national standards, is it appropriate to criticize Nike for the low pay rates of its subcontractors in Indonesia? Yes. Nike Company deserves criticism it currently receives from all global quarters due to poor wages, which almost all its factories situated beyond US borders pays their workers. I think Nike should not pay its workers based on what majority o f casual workers and farmers in Indonesia usually receive. Therefore, it is ethical that Nike and all its subcontracted factories pay their workers decently to enable people live comfortably besides motivating them. In addition, Indonesia being the highest producer of Nike products, its workers ought to receive special privileges as a sign of the mainstream’

Bags Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bags - Essay Example I decided to sharpen my skills with this game. Practice marketing is a modern, 3D multiplayer marketing strategy game (Practice Marketing). Practice marketing was designed to be a digital learning product for the backpack industry. This game enabled me to apply the theoretical part that I have learnt in class into a simulated world which is very similar to reality. The best part of the simulation game is that it allowed me to practice my marketing skills in a ‘real world’ but in a much funnier way which enhance learning apart from honing my marketing skills by cutting out boredom, classroom monotony and increasing creativity. Practice marketing uses the 4Ps of marketing that is product, price, placement and promotion (Practice Marketing). In the multiplayer game each student has to launch a new backpack product of their own original design to the market in the ‘real world’. First, I had to choose my target market. I chose the college students as my target market because in my years of college, I have seen how college students, especially girls spend almost all their money on fashion and boys always carry backpacks as they are handy for school and their manly stuff. College students were the best choice for my target market because first, the student body in my school alone is huge. Therefore, I designed a backpack that is both fashionable yet handy for other purposes. I had to design a backpack that was not feminine yet not masculine, so that both genders could purchase my backpack. Secondly, I chose to sell to college student because even though the price was about average- that is college friendly prices- the volume of sales would be huge thus significant profit levels. My strategy was unique in that most backpacks are meant for the male gender, but here I had designed a gender equal backpack and this is where I beat my competitors. Furthermore, my backpack design is not only meant for school as they can be used on other occasions too. This

'The importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Essay

'The importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to ...... (use the company featured for your portfolio my portfolio company is GOOGLE - Essay Example Social responsibility enables a company to build a good name about itself which over time earns it a good reputation. A good reputation is very important to any organization that is success oriented and its benefits cannot be underestimated. It makes people want to be associated with the firm since almost everyone is proud of it and this in turn is beneficial to the company (Paetzold 2009, p.33). It is thus a great marketing asset that has a high potential of increasing sales and customer loyalty, which as a result can translate, to perpetual dominance of the firm in the sector it operates in. Google Company because of being socially responsible has built a good reputation in the market that has made many people across the globe to be loyal to its products. This has enabled the company to excel in marketing its products and generally it has contributed significantly to its overall success (Scharl 2007, p.200) Organizations that give back to the community are associated with greater employee satisfaction and productivity than their counterpart that do not engage in empowering the society (Ulrich, Goldsmith & Carter 2004, p.40). This is mainly because the workers are able to rightly identify themselves with their employer without fear since the firm has built a strong brand of itself out of its involvement in social empowerment activities. They in turn become more motivated in their work and hence they consciously or unconsciously become more productive benefiting their employers. Furthermore firms which are ethically responsible usually attract the most qualified and talented employees mainly because these workers believe that they will be treated well. This strong belief that they will be treated well stems from the reasoning that if the company treats outsiders in such a good manner then it must be kind to its staff. Google Company over the past three years has donated over three hundred

Essay3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Essay3 - Essay Example In the LEGO: a love story by Jonathan Bender, Bender himself has reconciled his image as an AFOL himself. This, he does as he forges a strong relationship with his wife. He does this as he builds the sets of LEGO, the period during which he also tries to conceive a child and begin a family with the wife. Bender, as an AFOL, hence uses the love for the subculture which he had earnestly studied and experienced, however for a short duration, to register his love for the wife and then proceed to begin the family. The need for the family hence drives Bender, an AFOL, to be interested and even become obsessed with the hobby and the subculture. Also, on his 30th birthday, Bender comes out and begins his interest and the love for the LEGO subculture. This was occasioned by the love for the Lego present that he received on the birth day. So, because of this aroused interest. Bender travelled far and wide many conventions. In these conventions, he gets to several collections of sets of LEGO gathered by other Adult Fans of LEGO and the sellers of Brick link. This, by far inspired the LEGO fan and within two years of experience with the culture in the LEGO community, he was able to write a comprehensive book about the culture. This shows the level of research and experience he had gained within the short period of two years. â€Å"The background of an individual would also have a bearing on the interest and obsession with a hobby†. (Bender, p.56). Those who are not well grounded and experienced with the hobby beyond the childhood games of playing with toys can only be baffled by the diversity o the hobby for the adults. This has the effect of stimulating the need by the AFOLs to obtain a set or two of the LEGO. Just like in the case of Bender, enthusiasm play important part in creation of interest and at times obsession. Because of being enthusiastic about the bronies, majority of these AFOLs find themselves crowding the websites

Corporation Privacy and the Impact of Mess Media to Business Thesis

Corporation Privacy and the Impact of Mess Media to Business - Thesis Example This research proposal holds significance in identifying the main steps required for the adoption of social media and helping adding to the literature on acceptance of technology. The need of the changing times requires us to study the practices of social media applications and determine how they differ in terms of different user motivations and social connections. It will also be important in examining the behavioral life cycle modification in the variation, retention and selection processes involved in the adoption of social media applications. The amount of literature on social media’s usage by small and micro-business owners is not much. There is a need to fill this gap in research literature regarding this subject. The research proposal is of extreme importance since the use of social media by small businesses is growing leading to the transformation of electronic commerce to social commerc.This research problem would provide the positive effects of Social Media for Busin esses that how the media facilitates Corporations and why the social media is necessary for organizations.  The research would be conduct by following the methodology of Case Study and focused on the Qualitative approach. In this method, we would use the interviewing method within the case study, which would be possible by the related public and the employees of the concern corporations and the social media as well.  

Choose an international organizationand critically evaluate it in IHR Essay

Choose an international organizationand critically evaluate it in IHR as requirement - Essay Example The company stocks are listed in London Stock Exchange and are a major constituent of FTSE 100 index. The company was responsible for UK’s first mobile call on 01 January 1985 and within 15 years it became the Europe’s largest telecom company (Vodafone, 2013a). The Vodafone analogue is the first mobile phone network to be launched in UK. Vodafone Group Plc has a strong presence in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and United States through subsidiary networks, joint ventures and associated investment and undertakings (Vodafone, 2013b). The company offers fixed landline, cellular services, email and fixed network services. Apart from individual customers the company also provides telecom services and solutions to corporate clients. The various brands of Vodafone Group Plc are Vodafone Live, Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem and Vodafone Connect to friends, Vodafone Freedom Packs, Vodafone Home Amobee Solutions and Vodafone 710. The company also offers several int ernet plans tailor-made for the customers of specific countries. Apart from telecom services, the company services include the applications for mobile and communication technology in health care service sector. The Vodafone foundation provides charity, undertakes supports initiative and projects which utilize mobile technology to benefit the poor and has also worked with several charitable trusts for the betterment of society. Talent and Management Recruiting the right personnel for the right position is an integral task of the human resource manager. The task should be executed efficiently and then it would have a positive impact on the company. Talent management activities include the holistic approach to business planning and human resources, which improves the efficiency of the company and also the employee potential (Shepherd, n.d.). Talent management activities include the integration of different initiatives of the company. Firstly, it includes the organizational assessment a nd focuses on the vacant positions to be filled. This stage involves conducting interviews, psychometric testing which aligns to the competency model of the company. The potential candidate goes through a series of intensive and rigorous set of interviews. In this process the interaction level of the employer and the employee is smooth and there is an in depth analysis about the candidates potentiality. One of the major objectives of the organization would be to attract potential candidates for the suitable position through appropriate methods. Recruitment and Selection The efficiency of the organization depends upon the human resource and this is one of the prime reasons for selecting the right person for the right position. The systematic process of recruiting personnel from a qualified pool of candidates requires an effective human resource planning and determination of organizational needs (Shepherd, n.d.). The process of hiring candidates is a continuous process and is not conf ined to the formative stages of the organization. Recruitment & Selection in Vodafone The workforce at Vodafone Group Plc are recruited through two modes; internal and external sources. The internal sources of recruitment for Vodafone are as follows: Internal Sources a) Job Posting: One of the traditional methods to notify about the job vacancy is to notify through bulletin road but in contemporary management the notifications are sent through electronic mails and intranet

Corporation Privacy and the Impact of Mess Media to Business Thesis

Corporation Privacy and the Impact of Mess Media to Business - Thesis Example This research proposal holds significance in identifying the main steps required for the adoption of social media and helping adding to the literature on acceptance of technology. The need of the changing times requires us to study the practices of social media applications and determine how they differ in terms of different user motivations and social connections. It will also be important in examining the behavioral life cycle modification in the variation, retention and selection processes involved in the adoption of social media applications. The amount of literature on social media’s usage by small and micro-business owners is not much. There is a need to fill this gap in research literature regarding this subject. The research proposal is of extreme importance since the use of social media by small businesses is growing leading to the transformation of electronic commerce to social commerc.This research problem would provide the positive effects of Social Media for Busin esses that how the media facilitates Corporations and why the social media is necessary for organizations.  The research would be conduct by following the methodology of Case Study and focused on the Qualitative approach. In this method, we would use the interviewing method within the case study, which would be possible by the related public and the employees of the concern corporations and the social media as well.  

Arab - Islamic Culture and Civilization Research Paper

Arab - Islamic Culture and Civilization - Research Paper Example The west side viewers have disguised the term Sufism, by denoting it as â€Å"Islamic esotericism† or â€Å"Islamic mysticism.† This kind of terminologies is imprecise and often provides a negative impression of the term. It also discourages people who consider the Sufism as something quite suitable in accordance with the predetermined criteria. 5 The literal meaning of the word Sufi is the â€Å"one who attires wool (in Arabic wool is termed as á ¹ £Ã… «f).† (Voll & Ohtsuka, 2014). This word was used for the Muslims on the basis of their attire, which was woolen, as they liked to wear the woolen dresses especially in the 18th century. With the passage of time, It became the signature style of a group, which was used to wear it to represent themselves as different from others on the basis of Quranic and Sunna traditions and practices. After this, it was the time of 19th century, when the people belonged to this group designated this practice as â€Å"Tasawwuf†, whose literal meanings were â€Å"being a Sufi† or it is also called as Sufism. It was their own designated word to make them differentiated from others. And nowadays it is famous as the Sufism (Ernst, 1997; Hourani, 1991). 5 Sufism is regarded as the mystical side of Islam due to a number of reasons. Generally, Sufis are such people who try to purify themselves, not externally but internally. They emphasized over the meditation in spite of the deeds, divine development rather than the legalism, the refinement of their soul or inner side instead of the societal relations (Voll & Ohtsuka, 2014). The Sufis have strong beliefs with regard to the compatibility of the Sufism with Quran and Sunna, as they argued that the Quran and Sunna has some undisclosed, obscure, connotation and representations. Rather than using the literal way of â€Å"interpretation of Quranic Verses and Hadiths, they employed the metaphorical way, which tries to find some

Coney Island and Victorian Culture Essay Example for Free

Coney Island and Victorian Culture Essay Coney Island at the turn of the century was a bustling and growing place. People of all classes traveled from New York City as well as other parts of the world to take part in the famous amusements that helped to loosen the tight corsets of Victorian gentility. Inspired by the Columbian Exposition in 1893 George Tilyou began to build a park on Coney Island beginning with the Ferris Wheel similar to that featured at the exposition which was designed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company. By 1895 Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park and began to fill it with acts and side shows thus inspired by his travels a few years prior. While concentrating on the appeal to all walks of life Tilyou acquired A Ride to The Moon from Fredric Thompson and Elmer Dundy who built the ride specifically for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. A short season later in 1902 Thompson and Dundy left Steeplechase to create Luna Park taking the amusement with them. Playing off the most popular sport on Coney Island, Tilyou obtained a mechanical horse race that took riders on a thirty second ride around a track complete with hills and sharp turns. Other attractions added to the park included the Human Roulette Wheel which threw riders in all directions and Earthquake Stairs which jostled climbers and challenged them to descend a shaking stair case. These attractions as well as the wild side shows caused people to throw off all conventionality and made them rub elbows with other classes while having unrestricted fun. While Steeplechase drew visitors to the peninsula it also increased in the popularity of swimming or bathing as it was referred to in Victorian speak. People on a hot New York day adventured to Steeple Chase and the beach by various means of transportation. Donning the latest in bathing fashions people enjoyed more unrestricted fun regardless of any class system in the water. Although Victorians looked down their noses at the amusements and public bathing, people still flocked to the beaches and splashed in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ruckus rides and the ability to socialize appealed to the younger generations looking to toss off the oppressive garbs of Victorian gentility and just have plain unrestrictive fun. In 1907 tragedy struck Steeplechase as fire ravaged the park leaving a smoking ruin. In the efforts to still turn a dollar Tilyou charged admission to the ruins of the once great park. During the rebuilding, Luna Park benefited from the loss and treated guests to a modern park with rides to thrill everyone. The â€Å"old-fashionedness† of Steeplechase was challenged as Luna Park, the most modern of it’s time dazzled park goers with electric lights and tall white towers bathed in bright bulbs. This enabled the park to operate at night. But still people remained loyal to the original amusement park they knew so well even though built anew from smoldering ruins. George Tilyou sadly passed away in 1914 after seeing his park through another fire in 1911 which claimed Dreamland. Luckily enough the winds shifted and spared his park from a second disaster. By 1914 the amusement park began to fall out of favor. The once well loved and most visited park suffered a loss in the visitors during the hot New York summers. Steeplechase continued to operate and help people socialize and essentially come out of the tight bonds of gentility by offering a carefree time with out restrictions. Then on New Year’s Eve 1964 the last light was turned off for the final time at the ill fated old fashioned park. Luna Park on the other hand was not as popular as the original park but provided new wonders for those curious and daring enough to seek it out. Created after the Beaux-Arts movement of the time Thompson an erratic architect began to design the park as a world where someone could be lost in fantasy. By opening day on May 16th 1903 Luna Park opened its doors to the wonderment of many people seeking out entertainment and new amusements to help them shed the conventionality of the structured Victorian world. Here we can clearly see where still Steeplechase was cherished like a child hugs a ragged teddy bear but the new adventure which was named Luna was embraced for its latest technologies that Steeplechase clearly was lacking. With over 1 million lights, long distance telephone service, telegraph and radio services Luna Park became a city with in a city. With Thompson and Dundy’s success in creating illusion rides for the park guests they still relied on others as well. When they left the employment of Tilyou after the 1902 season they brought their famed â€Å"Ride to the Moon† amusement with them. Counting on its fame from Steeplechase park and the illustrious past of being featured at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 the creators hoped it would bring the crowds in. With more and more people seeking a day at the park and on the beach both parks helped make Coney Island known world wide and soon became a top tourist destination. At a time when high society still held restrictions of how men and women should act in public in high regards, more and more people used these parks as a way to shed the restrictions of society and seek titillating amusements and fill curiosities each other had that Victorian culture had suppressed over the years with rules and barriers against those who dared to go against the prim and proper societies. Technology in these times were changing and what better place to display these but at amusement parks and expositions. Younger Victorians embraced these changes and viewed them as a move toward the future. We can clearly see where walls were broken down between classes while all walks of life frolicked on the beaches of Coney Island, screamed on the same rides, and traveled faster than they ever had in their lives. Luna Park and Steeplechase side by side were wonderful examples of old an new. While people still embraced the old curious onlookers sought out attractions that displayed futuristic gadgets. By the creation of the final park Dreamland in 1904 tourism and the shedding of Victorian genteel ways were in full swing. Dreamland brought more pleasure seekers to the peninsula and more bathers to the sea shore. The park was built by William Reynolds who is best known for his crooked dealings with Tammany Hall. Dreamland became the park to rival the other 2 on the peninsula. It is said that the park would be anything unlike the modern world has seen. The main tower of Dreamland had a beacon that shined out to sea and confused many ships coming into port. The amusement park sparkled as guests promenaded through the many attractions and thrill rides. With Dreamland promising amusement in a more dignified way the creators tried to offer Culture to those who visited the park. Providing a grand ballroom and upscale restaurants from around the world Dreamland attempted to cater to the upper class leaving lower classes to attend the older less dignified parks. The developers still provided rides and attractions that rivaled the other parks and even stole ideas from them as well. Americans were fascinated by disasters. Fighting the Flames was a good example of this as New Yorkers were most familiar with tenements catching fire and many people dying. People could identify with this ride. As tenement style buildings covered in asbestos were set ablaze, firefighters came to the rescue of the tenants who jumped to their safety in huge nets below. With rides like Shoot the Chutes guests at Dreamland were still treated to rides that caused them to throw off all conventionalities. Dreamland with its intentions to preserve all that is roper and dignified still provided outrageous outlets that caused people to smile and scream like they never had before. Sideshows still prevailed like Bostock’s Circus and Captain Bonavita’s Lion Show. They treated guests to clowns, wild animals, and daring stunts which caused people to gasp and look on in awe. Dreamland gave people a look at the world in their own backyard. Rides like Touring the Alps which provided ride rs with a simulated ride through the Alps complete with blasts of cold air to the Japanese Tea Room which gave people a look at cultures foreign to their own. The achievements of creating an atmosphere of wonderment and awe like that of the previous expositions held in Chicago and Buffalo, Reynolds achieved ultimate success in helping people question their hum drum ways and rules that bound them tightly. On May 27 1911 the wonderment that was known as Dreamland came to an end when it burned to the ground. Complaints by the fire departments that fought the flames were low water pressure. It was said that Reynolds built the park so fast that he built over fire hydrants. The mistakes and rush to greed cost him his park only seven short years later. The fire although sparing because of the winds did not leave Thompson’s railway alone. Sadly but fortunately that was one of a few external victims of the fire caused by greed. Fred Thompson found General Manager Samuel Gumpertz staring blankly at the ruins. Reynolds decided not to rebuild the park and Gumpertz opened a freak show in a large tent. This was the beginning of the end of Coney Island, the most famous playground of the early 20th century. Luna Park and Steeplechase continued to operate through many changes of attractions. The 1920’s ushered in rides like The Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone. It is joked immigrants who came to this country saw The Wonder Wheel first before seeing the Statue of Liberty. Still The Wonder Wheel is a wonderful example of freedom through good times and laughter and the shedding of old ways to a new life. By the close of the season of 1946 Luna Park could no longer afford to keep its gates open to the dwindling visitors. That which was new and exciting became old and worn out. Steeplechase continued to operate and pride itself of being risen from the ashes still provided visitors with aging and familiar rides. By the opening of Astro Park in 1962 this began to spell the end of the turn of the century amusements. At the stroke of midnight New Years Eve 1964 the last light was turned out on the oldest amusement park of the time leaving behind a legacy of fun and a little known waltz written for the opening of Dreamland entitled â€Å"Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland†. By looking at the amusement parks of the early 20th century we can clearly see where proper Victorians were given the opportunity to shed the constrictions of a culture that forced them into a protected part of society. Here creators of parks provided a person all types of amusements and bathing which for proper Victorians swimming with people of the opposite sex was just scandalous. Many of the older generations still held fast to their convictions of manners and proper ways. In many ways Coney Island was a petrie dish for societies and cultures. Could they truly leave behind the tight corsets and stiff collars to have fun with all folks of all classes with out concern for class stratification due to wealth, power or even dress? The writer of this believes yes. This was a place where society began to leave behind their constrictions and just have plain fun. Therefore unmaking Victorian culture as it was known.

Terry Tempest Williams and Mormonism Essay -- Terry William Mormon Ess

Terry Tempest Williams and Mormonism In Mormon religion, formal blessings of healing are given by men through the Priesthood of God. Women have no outward authority. But within the secrecy of the sisterhood we have always bestowed benisons upon our families. Mother sits up. I lay my hands upon her head and in the privacy of women, we pray. (158) Terry Tempest Williams is fully aware that she is contradicting the church when she writes â€Å"women have no outward authority,† yet she still chooses to take part in a ritual of healing that can only be performed by the men. Williams, however, does so in privacy and in the â€Å"secrecy of the sisterhood.† The word secrecy hints at the idea of doing something which is not accepted and against certain beliefs of today’s church. She was born and raised in a home of devout Mormons who follow the traditional beliefs of their faith. She acknowledges that the Mormon Church places great importance on obedience. In college she began to question her faith and today would not consider herself an â€Å"orthodox Mormon,† although Mormonism still has an impact in her life and work. In her writing, Williams continually contradicts the values of the Mormons. In Refuge, she subtly defied the restrictions inflicted upon women by the Mormon Church. She briefly addressed the issue of having children and the role of women. Williams’ family, for the most part was very supportive of her book. It was met, however, with some criticism from Mormon academic journals, disapproving of her defiance towards the church. In an interview Williams said, â€Å"that obedience in the name of religion or patriotism ultimately takes our souls. So I think it's this larger issue of what is acceptable and what is not; where d... ...mately takes our lives.† She is consistently but subtly challenging the orthodoxy of Mormonism. (http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/archives/articles/2001/09/terry_tempest_williams.asp) Williams will continue to act in civil disobedience against some of the beliefs held in the Mormon Church; questioning everything she is taught. She attributes her work in part to her faith. This is perhaps because of her upbringing in Mormonism and her vision of a person in white that confirmed her faith. The love she had for her mother was perhaps another reason; Williams’ mother was a devout Mormon who took her religion seriously and closely followed its traditions. The independent spirit that she possesses, however, keeps her from accepting Mormonism in its entirety. She believes that it is right to challenge one’s beliefs, that it prevents one from blindly accepting everything.

Fly in Buttermilk Essay -- essays papers

Fly in Buttermilk James Baldwin is a very perceptive man and usually gets his point across pretty well. In his excerpt â€Å"A Fly in Buttermilk†, Baldwin discusses his encounter with a southern family. This family includes a young black male who is enrolled in an all white high school. He asks of the boy’s troubles and discusses his responses. For the very first words of this excerpt Baldwin states â€Å"You can take the child out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the child.† This bases on the whole excerpt. For my own interpretation I took this as a self-reflection upon one own environment. I know personally from my own experiences that the environments in which I was raised in from my parents and friends to my living in a city and a suburb reflect my opinion of what others speak of. What you are accustomed to become the normal and what you are not accustomed to become the odd. For example, in this excerpt Baldwin talks to an old man of the south. Baldwin tells of how he has seen picture of people being hung in the south, but this old man has actually experienc...

The Brief Wondrous

To experience passionate feelings for the first time is invigorating, maybe on the grounds that it increases to a startling level of self-change. We're all impacted by our loved ones, however a few of us all the more so. Evident in the novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, there are some people in the world who have extreme attachment and stress-related anxiety with being left alone, also known as Oscar in the story, ask themself of their own happiness. When the author, Junot Diaz, writes about self-growth throughout the novel, he explained that sometimes self-development can force you towards unfortunate propensities, making you more on edge, and even confused. In entering a relationship, there's a possibility that you might turn into someone you might not wish to become; which often causes individuals to make illogical decisions that configures their lives, in this case, Oscar being the individual making irrational decisions. Oscar had girlfriends as early as the age of seven, he was dating two girls from his school both Maritza Chacon and Olga Polanca at the same time. In spite of the three way relationship between the young lovers being an actual thing, it only lasted for a week. One day after school, Maritza wanted to face reality and confronted Oscar saying, â€Å"It's either her or me!†(Page14,Chapter1), Oscar being the player that he was with his Dominican Republic blood at age seven, wanted to share, having the best of both worlds, but Maritza wasn't accepting any of Oscar's nonsense. Maritza was different from the other girls Oscar had interacted with. She was beautiful and easy going with the guys, while the other girlfriend, Olga was unattractive and quiet. So it was pretty easy for Oscar to choose who to be with, Maritza. Only to be dumped not even a week after Oscar had dumped Olga! Oscar was doleful. So heartbroken to the fact that, he did not interact with another girl for years. After the whole situation of being dumped by Maritza, over the next couple of years Oscar became depressed, leaning towards food for comfort, in the end leading him to obesity, and when he got into the stage of early adolescence no one could really call him that cute little Dominican Republic boy anymore. Oscar got uncomfortable with his overweight body and no longer could go anywhere near girls, because they always â€Å"shrieked and called him gordo asqueroso.†(Page17,Chapter1). However, Oscar had become so desperate that if a girl talked to him for even a split second, he would fall in love with her. He â€Å"became a social introvert†(Page22,Chapter1), not having many friends throughout high school. â€Å"[Oscar's] affection-that gravitational mass of love, fear, longing, desire, and lust that he directed at any and every girl in the vicinity without regard to looks, age, or availability-broke his heart each and every day.†(Page23,Chapter1). As a result, he became very unwoeful with his life, abusing himself not only mentally but physically by lowering his self-esteem and self-confidence. As it came towards Oscar's Senior Year, â€Å"Oscar fell in love with a girl in his SAT prep class.†(Page33,Chapter1), Ana. Ana was a conversationalist, and in Oscar's perspective â€Å"[Ana] had beautiful Carribean-girl eyes†(Page34,Chapter1). She was a bit strange compared to the other girls, yet good-looking, making Oscar fall head over heels in love with her. Until one day she talked about her ex-boyfriend, Manny. Although things were going well between Ana and Oscar, the thought of Ana talking about Manny kept roaming in the back of his mind, pestering him.- â€Å"My parents loved Manny. My mom used to cook dinner for him all the time.†(Page35,Chapter1) Oscar liked Ana, but it didn't seem that Ana had the same feelings. Poor Oscar. When Ana had told Oscar that she and Manny were dating again, his heart got broken once more. Although this isn't the last time Oscar gets his heart broken, it sure is a starting point to deep, dark thoughts. As we read about Oscar's life in the novel, we can identify that due to the strong impression from Oscar's surroundings, he believed that a person needed to be loved, naturally he received stress from not succeeding, and in the end lost touch with reality. With peer pressure of having been told to lose his virginity more than several times, he became desperate, wanting to prove to himself that he too, can get a girl and be happy with life. However, due to the fact that Oscar couldn't really succeed in that area of expertise, it led him to numerous accounts of attempted suicide and eventually death.

Nucor Corporation Essay

Assess how globalization and technology changes have impacted the corporation you researched. Nucor Corporation has been known as a leader in the steel production industry since it was founded in 1955 as Nuclear Corporation of America (www.nucor.com). In the steel production industry, globalization is the driving force that affects competition. Since the modern day steel industry is of a global scope, including the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, China, and many other foreign countries, Nucor has made moves to counteract the impacts of globalization. In the mid-1900’s, the steel industry was plagued by overcapacity of foreign material due to the â€Å"dumping† of foreign steel into the United States at cut-rate prices. As many domestic steel firms did not have the resources to compete with these foreign giants, Nucor was in the best position to defend against foreign competition with their low-cost German technology, and in 1955 they started their first international venture with a Brazilian steel production company, and built their first international steel mill in the state of Ceara. Nucor was also threatened by the leader in foreign imports to the United States, so they bought a Japanese-owned mill in New York. Today, Nucor Corporation is continuously attempting to meet the challenges of a globalized market by expanding through acquisition in hopes that this will strengthen their market position and become a more globally competitive organization. Steel is the modern technology of the building, automotive, and several other industries. Advances in steel production technologies can drastically change the industry’s make-up, helping mills to produce material at lower costs. Nucor Corporation has been and continues to be a pioneer of new production technologies that helps them to produce material competitive in quality and cost to that of foreign producers. Traditionally, steel mills were/are using energy-intensive blast furnaces to make material. In 1969, through the use of advanced technologies, Nucor was able to produce the first mini-mill which relies primarily on scrap metals instead of iron-ore and coke. With the introduction of electric arc furnaces instead of the traditional blast furnaces, Nucor has been able to increase market share through the more efficient, lower-cost production that has helped them to triple their output since the 1990’s. Apply the industrial organization model and the resource-based model to determine how your corporation could earn above-average returns. Resources| 1. Nucor is known as a price leader in the steel production industry.| | | | 2. Nucor is constantly adding new product offerings and advancements in technology to lower the costs of production.| 3. $1.1 billion in capital expenditures budgeted for 2013 (www.nucor.com).| | | | | 4. Managers that are knowledgeable about the current trends in the global market which helps them maintain the ability to overcome the negative effects of slow economic growth.| 5. Nucor has strong relationships with its suppliers and buyers.| | | | | 6. Nucor has its own fleet of 150 trucks to ensure on-time delivery and reduce transportation costs.| Capability| 1. Nucor follows a low cost provider strategy, as it aims to provide a product that meets industry standards at the lowest available price in the industry.| 2. Nucor maintains an expertise in the implementation of technology that will help them lower production costs while increasing profit margins.| 3. Nucor steel production mills are located strategically near customers all over the United States to cut down on transportation costs.| 4. Nucor has limited long-term debt that places them in a position to grow through acquisitions. | Competitive Advantage| While the rest of the steel production industry focuses on the import material that is flooding the market and causing domestic pricing to slip rapidly, Nucor is in a strong financial situation to gain an advantage over their competitors by spending their available capital on growth and technology.| An Attractive Industry| The steel trade/import firm industry.| | | | | | | | Strategy Formulation and Implementation| Nucor can use their resources and capabilities to exploit them through a foreign import trade firm. Being known as a price leader in the steel production industry, Nucor can take advantage of the acquisition of a trade firm to bring foreign material into the United States without setting prices so low that they disrupt domestic pricing. This will allow them to buy steel from foreign producers at a low price and sell it to domestic consumers at a price high enough that it will not cause a decrease in domestic material, eventually increasing profit margins for Nucor Corporation.| Assess how the vision statement and mission statement of the corporation influence its overall success. Nucor Corporation is focused on their customers: their employees, shareholders, and the people that buy and use their products. Nucor’s vision is to be the safest, highest quality, lowest cost, most productive, and most profitable steel and steel products company in the world. This vision is the foundation of their mission: â€Å"Take care of our customers† (www.nucor.com). Nucor has established an internal â€Å"fit† with their employees and managers which include those that strive to improve efficiency while establishing strong relationships among employees, based on the Nucor values such as honesty, autonomy, trust, communication, and self-motivation. This type of value-added employment undeniably leads to short-term growth and long-term success. Those that do not uphold this â€Å"fit† will eventually leave on their own terms. This shows Nucor’s strength in management values, and provides a competitive advantage. Nucor Corporation also takes care of the people that buy their steel by constantly rising to the challenges of advancing technology to be able to produce quality material at a low cost. This type of value-added service paves the way for customer loyalty, eventually leading to long-term success in the industry. Evaluate how each category of stakeholder impacts the overall success of this company. Stakeholders are the individuals, groups, and organizations who can affect the firm’s vision and mission, and whom are affected by the strategic outcomes achieved, and have enforceable claims on the firm’s performance (Smith, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2013). These stakeholders are classified into three different groups: Capital Market, Product Market, and Organizational. Capital Market Stakeholders are comprised of the shareholders and the lenders. Shareholders can use tactics to pressure management into making certain decision for the corporation, and if they become dissatisfied they can sell their stock in the company. In the case of Nucor, the major lenders approved the risks of developing and implementing the electric-arc furnace technology through financing. In turn, being able to produce lower cost material has helped Nucor Corporation to have higher profit margin, thus producing a higher dividend for investors. Product Market Stakeholders include the customers, suppliers, host communities, and unions. Nucor has the ability to produce low-cost, high-quality steel that keeps customers loyal to their brand, even if the price rises. Being able to sell lower cost products at a higher price helps Nucor to maintain supplier loyalty as well because they are able to pay their scrap suppliers a higher price. Nucor also has locations all over the United States that employ over 20,000 people, which in turn helps these host communities through employment and revenues. Lastly, Organizational Stakeholders are the employees of Nucor. I would venture to say that the organizational stakeholders of Nucor Corporation are the bread and butter of the company. Their value-added services and product knowledge, mixed with the Nucor â€Å"fit†, can either make or break the success of the company. References Hitt, Hoskisson, Ireland (2013). Strategic Management Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. Cengage Learning: Mason, Ohio. www.nucor.com. Retrieved 7/10/2103.